Archive for January, 2018

This month, the Boulder Group Council approved $6000 in Conservation Grants for 2018! We historically made such grants in the past, but suspended them in 2017 due to budget constraints. We’re especially happy to help other organizations who can leverage our grants with matching funds and volunteers to do things such as sustainable trail building and repair to improve the local outdoor recreation experience while protecting our natural resources. We have a committee of 3 Council members who will solicit and evaluate grant applications.

In other Conservation news, we will be more active in promoting and publicizing trail building opportunities in 2018 as they become available starting in spring. Please stay tuned to the Compass or the Colorado Mountain Club Boulder Group facebook page if you’d like to participate. Thanks!

The annual dinner on November 4th was well-attended by about 80 members and guests! So well attended, in fact, that we ran short on entrees but perhaps made up for that with dessert, merriment, and drink. Pete Birkeland led the night as emcee, sharing some good stories which evoked fond memories from many of the long term CMC Boulder members in attendance. Alan Apt, our featured speaker, gave an interesting talk and demo of ski and snowshoe equipment and presented extensive slide show of Ski and Snowshoe Routes in Colorado’s Front Range.

During the business meeting, we elected the following 2017-18 CMC Boulder Group Council. I’m happy to report that all but one of our 2016-17 council members are returning. New council members are listed in bold.

Chairperson: Gary Johnston, to be succeeded by Lori Barkus 3/1/18

Vice Chair: Lori Barkus, to be succeeded by Ryan Bennick 3/1/18

Treasurer: Jason Kintzel

Secretary: Kahle Toothill

Past Chair: Rick Casey

Marketing Chair: Carrie Simon

Outings Chair: Jill Yarger

Cabins Chair: Jason Kintzel

Conservation Chair: Gary Johnston

Boulder Mountaineering School Director (Winter): Cindy Gagnon

At Large members: Chris Bamat, Ryan Bennick, Steve Blazo

We do still currently have 2 vacancies on the Council, Safety Chairperson and Boulder Mountaineering School Director (Spring/Summer/Fall). If you’d like to help out with either of those, please contact chair@cmcboulder.org.

Aside from the Council activities, the “New & Prospective Member Overviews” that we hold bi-monthly are an important part of our operations. Ben Feinstein and Chris Bamat have teamed up to conduct these overviews going forward. The next will be on Feb 6, and you can find out more on our meetup page.

Thanks to all who came to the dinner, and a big thanks to volunteers who have made and continue to make the CMC Boulder group a vital organization as we enter our 99th year! I’d like to acknowledge Lori Barkus in particular for stepping up as future Chairperson. Thank you Lori!

The CMC Boulder Group is very thankful for a generous gift from the Estate of David Waddington. In a letter accompanying the gift, Mary Kay Waddington wrote:

“Many of you will remember my father, David Waddington, who joined the Boulder Group of the CMC in 1942! He was at one time the CMC president, and outing leader, and always a great lover of our mountains. When he passed away in May, he requested that I give the Boulder Group a check to further your wonderful work.

Thank you for all you do to protect and preserve our Colorado Mountains, and to teach people how to use them responsibly.”